Abstract:
Objective:To study the changes of transforming growth factor-1(TGF-1) and tumor necrosis factor-(TNF-) in serum at different stages in the development of rat silicosis model.Methods:Thirty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into silica exposure group(20 rats) and control group(10 rats).Silica suspension at 40 mg/ml(1 ml) was administrated intratracheally once while equal amount of saline was intratracheal instilled to the rats in control group.Animals were sacrificed at 1st,7th,14th,21th and 28th day after instillation.The levels of TGF-1 and TNF- in serum were determined by ELISA.Results:In contrast to control group,TGF-1 level was decreased at 1st and 7th day(P〈0.01),and increased at 14th,21th and 28th day(P〈0.01) in experiment group.And TNF-level was increased at 1st,7th,and 14th day(P〈0.01),and decreased at 21th and 28th day(P〈0.01).Conclusions:Silica can induce the changes of serum TGF-1 and TNF- in experimental silicotic rat model.The unusual high expression of TGF-1 might take part in the pulmonary fibrosis.